Duet:  Coldwell Banker vs Craigslist

8/2/07

Craigslist is in 50 countries, Coldwell Banker is in 83

Craig's new hobby

People really want to believe in this country again

Q:  So what are you doing?

Craig:  Talking to a lot of people around the world to create a moderate voice to say that the American people still believe in that shining city upon the hill.  People around the world still want to believe in the United States, even if... (get exact quote).

I've become involved in the SunLight Foundation and am trying to lure Larry Lessig into the fold.

Q: Alex, bull or bear on the real estate market?

Wish I had a crystal ball.  There is no national market in real estate, it is a composite of thousands of local real estate markets, so it is impossible to predict.  If you look at yesterday, I was ready to slit my wrist after the first speaker.

We believe this market peaked in August of 2005, after a ten year run-up.  If you look historically, you might conclude it will take five years for the market to recovery.

In October, $50 billion in mortgages will come up for adjust.  That will be followed by $30 billion per month through 2008.  It is too early to predict where the market is going, until those adjustments work through the market.

Q:  Craig, how do you make synchronicity happen?

We don't think what we're doing is special, we are just following through...  we're now up to 8 billion page views per month.

Q:  How does Prudential deal with Yahoo?

Q:  Craig, have you ever thought of taking data feeds, we heard yesterday that Zillow is going to begin taking them?